Removable cap for containers



Dec. 28, 1 24 1,520,250

D. M. "KERR REMOVABLE CAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed NQL: 20, 1920 i9 Qaw'oenmtoz- WM LMWM MM, 3 M GHCOTATIQJLDAM Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

DUNCAN MACMILLAN KERR, OF PALMERTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

REMOVABLE CAP FOR CONTAINERS.

Application filed November 20, 1920. Serial No. 425,305.

To (.171 'Ie/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN M. KERR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Palmerton, county of Carbon, and State .ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRemovable Caps for Containers, of which the followingis a specification,rcference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof.

My invention relates to caps or seals for containers and has specialreference to replaceable ca s for flexible tubes such as are common yemployed to contain tooth paste, shaving cream, glue, library paste, andother viscous fluids.

One object of my invention is to provide a particularly simple andimproved cap or seal of the character above indicated, that shall bemore readily removable and replaceable than the screw caps such as arealmost universally employed.

More specifically, it has been my aim to provide a cap or seal which maybe manufactured in large quantities at very small expense, and which mayinstantly be snapped on and off by an action comparable to that ofopening and closing a button clasp.

The disadvantages of the usual screw cap are well known and it is onlynecessary to mention some of them as follows:

1. They are a constant source of annoyance on account of the threadsbecoming easily crossed or stripped.

2. The trouble and care necessary to adjust it properly is such that thecap is usually merely placed at the end of the tube instead of beingscrewed down and is soon lost.

I am of course aware that crimped metal seals have been provided forglass bottles and similar containers, but they require the use of aspecial tool or implement for their removal and are frequently damagedin removal, so that they will not stay on if attempt is made to replacethem.

In order that my invention may he tho-roughly understood, I will nowproceed todescribe the same in the following specification, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a tube equipped with a cap which constitutesone embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is anend view of the tube, includding the cap, drawn to alarger. scale, an

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the outlet end of the tubingand the cooperating cap in detail.

A modified structure which also constitutes an embodiment of myinvention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, which correspond respectively toFigures 2 and 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the spring employed in the construction ofFigures 4 and 5.

Special reference will first be had to Figures 1, 2 and 3 in which 10designates a flexible tube of ordinary construction having atubularoutlet projection 11, terminating in an end wall 12, equipped with aperforation 13 of rectangular or other suitable shape, through which theviscous fluid contained in the tube is extruded.

A cap 14' is formed to fit onto the end of the tubular member 11, whichis provided with a bead or flange 15, and the cap is provided with aninternal recess 16 forming a pocket in which a spring 17 is disposed.The spring may be of any suitable form, but I prefer to use thatillustrated in Figure 2 which consists of a semi-circular body withS-shaped ends, which tend to press inwardly toward each other and areadapted to engage on opposite sides of the neck 11.

The arrangement of parts is such that it is only necessary to push thecap onto the end of the tube for the spring to snap past the bead 15 andhold the cap firmly in place, pressing the cap'washer 18 tightly overthe opening. In utilizing the tube it is only necessary to pull the capoff and after'use it can be as' easily replaced by merely pressing it onthe end of the projection 11. The action is comparable to that of abutton clasp which is so universally utilized in other industries.

Referring to F igures 4, 5 and 6, in which corresponding parts aredesignated with the same reference characters, the formation of the tubeis the same as before, thecap is slightlv modified to receive a simplespring 19 in the form of an interrupted ring. The

.spring is put under compression slightly while it is beingintroducedinto the groove or slot 20 of the can 21. which corresponds tothe internally formed recess 16 of the cap 14;, and consequently it willnot fall out. Nevertheless, it is so proportioned as to be expandedslightly when.the cap is forced either on or off.

Thebead or flange 15 is formed in each instance so as not only to holdthe cap from coming off, but also so as to create a spring actiontending to pull the cap on and to compress the washer 18, thuspreventing leakage.

' Other modifications may be effected within the spirit and scope of myinvention, and I desire only such limitations be imposed as areindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a container having an annular bead of a torusformation, of a cap having an internally formed 'annular spring pocketnear its edge, and a spring therein adapted to snap over the beaded endof the container when the cap is placed in position or removed.

2. The combination With a container hav ing an annular bead of a torusformation, of a cap having an internally formed annular spring pocketnear its edge, and a spring therein comprising an interrupted ringadapted to snap over the beaded end of the container when the cap isplaced in position or removed.

3. The combination with a container having an annular bead of a torusformation, of a cap having an internally formed annular spring pocketnear its edge, and a spring therein comprising an interrupted ring withits ends formed with S-shaped bends which are adapted to snap over thebeaded end of the container when the cap is placed in position orremoved.

.In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day ofNovember, 1920.

D. MACMILLAN KERR.

